Critical and subcritical mass calculations of curium-243 to -247 based on JENDL-3.2 for revision of ANSI/ANS-8.15

Okuno, Hiroshi  ; Kawasaki, Hiromitsu*

Critical and subcritical masses were calculated for a sphere of five curium isotopes from 243Cm to 247Cm, in metal and in metal-water mixtures, considering three reflector conditions: bare, with a water reflector or a stainless steel reflector. The calculation were made mainly with a combination of a continuous energy Monte Carlo neutron transport calculation code, MCNP, and the Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library, JENDL-3.2. Other evaluated nuclear data files, ENDF/B-VI and JEF-2.2, were also applied to find differences in calculation results of the neutron multiplication factor originated from different nuclear data files. A large dependence on the evaluated nuclear data files was found in the calculation results.